Chapter 7

EMTen and Colors' ambitious new work, 'Make a New Color'.

What was the reaction to the musical, commonly known as Menyucal?

When the teaser was released, it only drew a limited amount of anticipation.

The fans of Colors' idols had mixed reactions to the news of 'Make a New Color'.

Half were excited, half were dissatisfied.

Who are these new kids?

They only do well with existing idols, why are they releasing new ones?

However, everyone had 'a little' interest.

Let's see what these kids look like.

And as the self-introduction videos started to roll-

★

Ryu Bora: I'll be pretty

Me: I'll die

#Today's_Weather_is_PurpleRainbow

I can't stand Geunyi anymore. Geunyi looks like a girl to me, and I've fallen in love with that girl. Knowing it can't happen, I'm trying to tear out my heart that loves Geunyi.

Ryeo Yu, I'm turning sixty, how can I live without Ryeo Yu?

The reactions started to completely turn around.

As expected, Colors is Colors.

Most comments praised the kids for being impressively chosen.

A summary of which Menyucal member's video to watch. GEUL

It seems not all 12 kids need to be watched (it's fine for fans to watch them all) but this is for the general public.

Ryu Bora – She has a good face, honestly, she's the visual center. Just looking at her face is a 1-minute highlight, and her skills are also decent.

Seo Baekyoung – As expected, a 10-year trainee, her skills are top-notch. However, she seems to attract more female fans.

Yeon Juhong – Not the best, but she has a certain charm. She's cute and touches the hearts of hardcore fans.

Kim Geunyi – Her rapping is top-notch. I don't know about the hardcore fans, but she's being marketed to mysterious hip-hop fans.

Kim Ryeo Yu – Despite the center controversy, she's doing well. Her skills are top-notch, and she's definitely in the top three.

Jo Hee On – Balanced, worth watching.

★★Yoon Cheong★★

– Sorry, I was just trying to draw attention to market her.

She's clearly the main vocalist.

Is there a main vocalist who can also dance and look good?

But the most surprising thing is that she's also a great composer.

She sang an original song, and it was really good.

Most original songs are bad, but this one is really good. I don't know why, but I hope EMTen releases a perfect song soon.

Give it a try, churay churay.

She might be the next in line for the Menyucal main vocalist.

What are you talking about, hardcore fan?

Regular people don't watch this.

└ Seriously, only hardcore fans will watch this. (from a hardcore fan)

But honestly, Yoon Cheong is really good, and that's undeniable.

Of course, the one who received the best reaction was undoubtedly-

Who is this Yoon Cheong? I watched without any expectations, and I was blown away.

★

I didn't even expect her to be the best; as expected, Colors is the main vocalist...

Did you see Yoon Cheong's 1-minute self-introduction? It's amazing.

A Colors trainee singing an original song in a 1-minute self-introduction.

***

Today was a rare day without filming.

Of course, that doesn't mean it was a day off.

Days without a schedule are for practice.

That's the rule.

Especially since we need to prepare for the upcoming filming.

"Hello."

I opened the practice room door and greeted.

"Oh, Cheong, hello."

"Hello!"

The atmosphere in the practice room has definitely changed.

Before, greetings were half-hearted, but now everyone responds.

I can also feel that the attention is on me.

Social media and communities are scary like this.

Reactions come in real-time, raw and unfiltered.

And the trainees can't help but see it.

It's a direct issue related to their debut.

I acted as usual.

Just because I caught some attention for a moment doesn't mean it's a big deal.

This is just the beginning.

If I slip up even a little, I might end up at the bottom again.

I warmed up and then played the choreography video again.

The first main song of 'Menyucal', 'Rainbow', the choreography video.

The main stage that will appear at the beginning of Chapter 1.

They probably didn't want to be called the colorful ones, so the first song is about a rainbow.

'For something like this, the center is crucial.'

I heard the center was decided without any discussion.

By none other than Mr. Kim, for no particular reason.

Very unfair.

'Isn't this too much? Knowing how important the center is, to be so unfair...'

'Not just once or twice. The favoritism is so obvious it's annoying.'

'Hey, hey, someone might hear.'

That's why the trainees had quite a bit of dissatisfaction.

...I heard it on the way here.

"Unnie!"

It was Yeon Juhong.

According to Yoon Cheong's memory, she's the 'perfect maknae'. She's cute, lively, and follows her seniors well.

But sometimes she's strangely scary.

...I'll have to observe her more to understand why she's scary. It's not really scary in the literal sense, but there's some other meaning.

"Uh-huh?"

"Did you hear who our center is?"

"Ah, yeah."

"Isn't it crazy? How can they decide the center without even consulting us?"

"Haha."

"I wish I could be born with a silver spoon in my next life, really."

Yeon Juhong didn't seem to expect an answer from me, she just ranted and left.

She's like a storm.

"...Did you hear?"

This time it was Seo Baekyoung.

I wondered why everyone suddenly acted friendly towards me, then I realized.

It's because I'm a strong candidate for debut.

"What did you hear?"

"About her being the center."

"Ah, yeah."

Seo Baekyoung sighed.

"Aren't you angry?"

"Ah, no. I wasn't really a center candidate to begin with."

My honest answer made Seo Baekyoung flinch.

You were a center candidate, but Yoon Cheong wasn't even considered.

"Sure, what's the point of telling you this. Sorry. Keep practicing."

I nodded and continued my choreography practice.

So, who is the center?

Of course, there's only one.

Kim Ryeo Yu.

***

"Let's do a mic check and then we'll start!"

This is one of EMTen's studios.

It's usually used for music broadcasts, but today it's being used for 'Menyucal'.

The set is nicely arranged.

Since the song is 'Rainbow', a rainbow-themed set is prepared.

It could have been tacky, but it's not. It feels fresh.

As expected, a large company can cover up tackiness with capital.

I suddenly thought of my original agency.

I wasn't from a large company. I was from a small to medium-sized agency. It was so small, it was almost a one-person agency.

...But now it's considered a medium to large agency.

Of course, that's thanks to me.

When I debuted, it was just a small company. I was the only artist.

There was no money, and no marketing power. The CEO, Mr. Seo, was a person with nothing but perseverance and determination.

Well, he did have an eye for talent, since he picked me.

"Let's do a rehearsal. Everyone knows the basics, right? Look at the camera with the light on."

PD Oh was waving the script at the trainees.

Anyway, his personality...

I glanced at the camera.

The light was on, so it's being filmed. I need to focus.

"Alright, let's check the large set. Look around. The set is different from the practice room."

I nodded and looked at Seo Baekyoung.

It's your turn to step up.

"Kids, our stage is a bit dangerous, so pay attention. There's a lip here, so be careful not to step outside. If you fall and hurt your ankle, it's over, you know?"

Sure enough, Seo Baekyoung, being the senior, was giving advice to the other trainees.

"Kyung and Cheong, you're at the ends, so be extra careful. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Suin and Hee On, watch your spacing. Your spacing is off. Can't you adjust without a mirror?"

Seo Baekyoung started with the people at the edges and gradually moved towards the center.

"Ryeo Yu, as the center, you need to do the best, got it?"

Oh, there's a bone in that.

PD Oh seemed to think the same and pointed the camera at the two.

What a despicable person.

I was actually puzzled when I first heard that Kim Ryeo Yu was appointed as the center without any discussion.

The center selection could be a good material for the show.

The competition and passion among the trainees, and the skills shown during the selection process.

All of that could be good content.

But they gave up on that and just appointed Kim Ryeo Yu as the center?

PD Oh? Why?

But I soon understood the reason.

"Of course, I'll do my best, thank you, unnie."

PD Oh is probably using this 'appointment' to create content.

But it's strange. I thought PD Oh and Mr. Kim would be in cahoots. Are they not?

Well, PD Oh... He's the type who can't see who's above him...

Is it pride over money? I gave up trying to figure out which of the two prideful people would win.

Whoever wins, it won't feel good.

"What's there to be thankful for? If you're thankful, just do well."

The two smiled at the camera, but their words were sharp.

It makes sense.

If the center had to be chosen by dance, it should have been Seo Baekyoung.

If the center had to be chosen by looks—since looks are subjective and can't be decided by one person—Kim Ryeo Yu wouldn't be it.

I looked around at the twelve trainees.

If the center had to be chosen by looks, it would be Ryu Bora.

The most striking physique, and her acting background gives her good expressions—especially her face is top-notch.

The ideal center, you could say.

"Ready? Let's start the rehearsal!"

Anyway, Yoon Cheong still lacks the standing to be the center.

While she's a main vocalist, her other skills are still lacking.

People's evaluations don't change so easily after just one performance.

...And right now, there's no need to be the center.

Center? Sure. It's a great position to grab attention at first.

But the first center is a double-edged sword.

If the right person is in that position, they will shine—

But I know how easy it is for an unqualified center to be torn apart.